Yemen army claims gains in Al-Hudaydah despite truce

By Mohamed al-Samei

SANAA (AA) - At least 150 Houthi fighters have been killed or injured in ongoing clashes in Yemen's western Al-Hudaydah province, the Yemeni army said Monday.

According to an army-linked news website, Yemeni forces successfully repelled a Houthi attack in Al-Hudaydah’s southern Ad-Durayhimi district, during which an estimated 150 Houthis fighters were neutralized.

Houthi spokesmen were not immediately available to comment on the army's assertions.

Despite a truce agreement signed last week in Sweden, Al-Hudaydah has continued to witness sporadic clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels.

The cease-fire is hoped to fully take effect in the province late Monday, according to the terms of the deal, which calls for the withdrawal of all armed groups from Al-Hudaydah and its strategic seaports.

Yemen fell into civil war in 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa, forcing the government to take up temporary residence in Saudi Arabia. (It is currently based in the southern city of Aden.)

In 2015, Saudi Arabia and several of its Arab allies launched a massive air campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back Houthi military gains.

While the Saudi-led coalition has succeeded in wresting some territory back from the Houthis, the rebel group remains firmly ensconced in Sanaa and several other parts of the country.